Belly Dance Talk Live, August 31st – Choreography Known and Unknown
Unknown choreography seems to be the missing puzzle piece that stump many dancers. It did me but as I matured in this dance form I realized that sometimes it’s up to me to fill in the missing links. I think in many ways choreography is about creating on another level of thought. It can mathematical in many ways but also the unknown choreography is the equation that only we can figure out. Known choreography in many respects can be like wearing a dress that feels good all over and fits like a dream. We create what fits our bodies but if we forget this, the missing pieces can seem like gigantic holes or an unsolvable equation.
We don’t see counting on stage yet we know that most dancers will create according to a rhythm that follows a 4 or 8 count. Most belly dance music is repetitive so it’s plausible that a repeated phrase in music will allow us variety in our moves. We can try out any groups of combinations knowing we can interchange down the line. Following music then becomes more then counting; it becomes a self interpretation of how our equations add up. How we hear music comes to the forefront of our unknown choreography because it becomes known and completed once it is performed in front of an audience. I think the missing link for most choreographers is the last remaining part of their equation because the one missing link is how an audience will respond. I have changed choreographies through out the years with the help of different audiences. They can be an amazing mirror if we learn how to take their response and incorporate the positive and even negatives with change.
Known choreography can be in the box or out of the box based on self interpretation and the dancers preference. But sometimes I think that dancers can get stuck performing dances that are structured to the point of a rigid habitual movement. We have all seen wonderful dancer’s perform the same choreography over and over again. Why would accomplished dancers stick with the same choreography when the world is full of new, endless ideas and inspirations? I think the same can be said for troupes but of course troupe dancing is entirely different but occasional change would be good. It would be like freshening up a room with new curtains. It doesn’t take much to add new spice to something that can get stale.
I have a wonderful dance friend, Rozana al Jinan who is the troupe director of Zahara al Jinan in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The one thing I love about Rozana is the fact she will change up or add something new to her choreographies so the audience is always left with anticipation each time her troupe performs. Rozana does something different that most choreographers don’t think of, she takes the known choreography and turns it into an unknown choreography. Surprise is always the best spice to add to any choreography and Rozana does this well!
Following through with a themed idea is always a challenge but it really does test the skills of a choreographer. Belly dance shows are full of predictable performances but I think that if troupes or individual dancers had a bit of drama (theater) in their structure from the get go, the end results would be show stopping performances. In the box or out of the box choreographies can be either predictable or startling surprises that leave audiences indifferent or breathless. Let’s be realistic here if you want to stand out from the crowd it takes a commitment beyond the accepted norm to excel in choreography. People love stories and if you leave them with a happy ending they will not only remember how amazing your choreography was but how amazing you made them feel. The two together are powerful.
So let’s talk choreography this Wednesday 10:00-11:00am and 7:30-8:30pm and chat about what makes a powerful statement with in the box or out of the box choreography. To me unknown choreography is a voyage through jungles, oceans or deserts uncharted. Known choreography is a resort town that has all the comforts of home plus great margaritas!
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What is Layering?
by Leyla Najma · 4 Comments
I get asked a lot of questions on belly dance but one that I have found that I don’t get asked often is regarding “Layering” and what it really is.
Looking at our dance field today, it has changed into an accumulation of personal interests and the pursuit of relevance for each individual dancer. So layering can be sharp to soft movements or upper body to lower body and many other interpretations in-between. Without layering our dance tends to look a little flat almost one dimensional and you can usually tell an experienced dancer from a novice by her ability to layer in movement.
Layering is also the focal point for the audience that prepares them for each chapter in a story that a dancer tells through out her dance. It’s the dramatic or subtle change in the phrasing in the music interpreted by the dancer.
As with any painting what makes it have depth is the usage of the shadows and color interchanges with subjects either in the background, middleground or foreground. The Abstract purposes that the interpretation of the strokes is just as or more important than the detailed idea. Impressionistic themes want to suggest what the image is without giving it away totally to the viewer. Realistic paintings say it all and leave nothing for the imagination because they become as real as the room you are standing in. Each style takes you in and makes you apart of the painting.
Our dance is a compilation of our own interpretation of what we like and view as beautiful. So to me “layering” is the stroke of our movements that makes the performed choreography understandable to the audience. Put a shadow of an accent to the melody of any song and you bring to life the wordless meaning of the song. Even songs with words don’t have the same impact without a dancer up on stage becoming the mime or interpreter. Sometimes it’s the impact of movement that the audience sees first and the music accompanies the dancer. I have had people say to me that the movement I did at a certain part of the song was beautiful more often then being asked, what song was I dancing to. There is a romanticism that sets our dance apart from all others because we surrender to our movements tirelessly with each performance. Because of this we have more performers questioning their dance in dressing rooms or darkened hallways; it all has to do with the realism, abstract or impressionistic stroke of their visual interpretation of their dance. Really what they are questioning is, “Did the audience see what I created?”
So “layering” isn’t just the accent of a chest lift or drop or soft swirls of hip circles with shoulder rolls but an individualized signature that takes your dance from a primitive, one dimensional performance to an explosion of movement. Even in the subtle moments of your dance stroke, you lead the audience where to look as you complete your canvas. With live performing they get to see the canvas blank first and the strokes of movement added in to create an image, story and emotional journey that otherwise wouldn’t exist. They are pulled into its meaning and they become apart of the canvas. It is and always has been the sharing of energies and imagination that keeps the dancer and the audience connected. But little do they know that it’s the “layering” of a dancers signature strokes that leads them into her dance and into her canvas.
So I have shared with you what “layering” is to me…….share with me what it is for you!
Sphere: Related ContentLet The Flood Gates Open and Feel the Ocean of Change
by Leyla Najma · 1 Comment
The biggest reasons for dancing sometimes can be a catalyst that propels us in directions where we free fall and land flat on our feet or end up upside down. This dance is crazy and for the most part we have to be a little insane for wanting to be apart of it. Maybe this is a good thing since the world is so chaotic right now.
I have been dreaming of the Ocean for many weeks and I have come to realize that she represents change happening in my life. Its obvious there is cleansing going on but on a deeper level I feel like I am just about ready to open up a treasure trove of desirable trinkets, romantic dreams, soul emergence and the unthinkable aspirations of a choreographer’s bliss. It’s not about what is in front of me but what is around the corner, hidden from view. I’m past the monster stage but that’s only because I have abolished my own monster inside myself. Well…..okay I only let her come out during Halloween! But my point is that I’m not afraid of what I can’t see coming anymore. The curve ball blather can hurt especially when it hits you right between the eyes but I recently read that belly dancers have a magical ability to see any large or small types of blather being ejected their way. Wish I would have read that in the “Belly Dancers Magic Book” a while ago if you know what I mean!
Anyways apart of choreography is allowing change to take place so movements are fresh like a spring rain or ocean breeze. The more you feel the change and embrace it the more you become what inspires you. The way I look at choreography is this; you choreograph what you succumb to, dance your physical masterpiece and complete the cycle of renewal with the finished performance and outcome. We are what we allow inside us and as dancers we have the most important and delicate of jobs; we cater to people’s bliss, misery, happiness, sadness, so we have all these emotions rolled into one audience. Our choreographies have a little of all of these emotions in them because when we dance we dance from life itself which is the existence of every emotion. How lucky we are to choreograph misery into a dance and change it into bliss or a sad lover’s song into a happy reunion. We get to play the magical muses of life becoming the genies of our generation.
Flood gates open, water flooding the senses………time to choreograph!!
PS I”m on the second song for Belly Stretch/Thrust and Roll so by the end of the week we will have a great workout class finished!
Sphere: Related ContentLeyla’s Updates
by Leyla Najma · 2 Comments
Hip Mastery 6 Video Series
This morning I was thinking about what I would write in my blog and I thought I would bring the subject up of my Hip Mastery videos only because I haven’t really mentioned them much. I tend to create videos and edit them, give them to Daniel and then move on to the next project. The funny thing is that if Daniel asks me a question regarding a video I usually have to go back and look at it because I have made so many besides my curriculum classes that I am not sure how to answer him sometimes.
There are 6 videos in the Hip Mastery series that focus just on the hips. But the best part is that each video connects to the next one. So I didn’t want students trying to figure out how to work in movement and combinations without a guide. It just seemed to me that most women who are passionate about this dance want instruction that will help them get results.
I realized that living the life style of a belly dancer day in and day out means that there is no rest for the choreographer. I constantly think of combinations and different choreographies to share with dancers, it’s almost like a calling. I would rather make videos for dancers or teach workshops then perform because seeing women in the glory of their movement is where the spirit of belly dance lives for me. It’s in the learning process of moving within our bodies where I see the epiphanies come alive for women. To me the stage is the end result of a beautiful journey but it is so much fun watching women learn and grow along their path before they achieve their goals.
Hip Mastery is my answer to the questions that women have asked me about thrusts, mayas and shimmies. Add in soft moves, traveling steps and you can see why this is a 6 video series. To me they make “Belly Dance sense”.
Here’s the website in case you want to check them out. www.hipmastery.com
Drum Solo Choreography”Jibber Jam”
The drum solo choreography “Jibber Jam” is coming along and I am almost finished with it. My daughters first day of school is coming up so I will be able to finish the choreography and get it videotaped. I have to laugh though because I put together what I thought was a simple drum solo choreography and it’s not as simple as I thought. I am excited to offer music never heard before, text and a step by step choreographed video in a way that will make it easy to learn. This will be so cool once I get it done but as with all my projects it is taking a little longer then I thought. Hopefully within the next two weeks it will be done and I can blare my bugle and sing a song but only in the shower!
Sphere: Related ContentLeyla’s Latest News
by Leyla Najma · 11 Comments
Weight Loss VS A Performing Art:
For the past year I have been noticing a lot of women are writing in because they want to lose weight. I know belly dancing is a fun way to exercise but the serious dancer in me doesn’t see the connection from learning a cultural dance to losing weight. Obviously any type of cardio is a great way to get into shape but there is a bit of a difference here. As a professional dancer I see belly dance as an expression of individual divine creativity. It’s the self expression of the soul that is my connection to belly dance. But I had to sit back and chew on my feelings for awhile and that is why I decided to do the Belly Stretch-Thrust and Roll exercise class. Another reason is that now that I am in pre-menopause I have found that I have to exercise more to keep the weight off. So this week I am creating a fast paced regimen for everyone that should be a lot of fun!
Jibber Jam
I am in the process of working on a drum solo choreography for dancers and students called Jibber Jam. The drum solo music was a Christmas gift from Daniel 4 years ago composed by Issa Malluf. I am trying to make it something that is easy enough for dancers to follow who aren’t comfortable creating their own choreographies yet. I know that everyone loves drum solos so I thought I would make it first on my “to do” list of new videos. I must say as a spontaneous choreographer this is quite the task for me because as I have been listening to the music my mind wonders and I find I am literally “jamming” to the music.
Book is Almost Done!
I haven’t written much about my book only because it has been a long and thought provoking journey. But I am excited to say that I have only 4 chapters to go and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I have to say I haven’t been totally in the dark, I have been flying around with past memories, people and a few giggles. So I’m hoping to get it finished within a couple months and when I do, it will be party time!
Latest Article for Chronicles
I have been writing for Chronicles belly dance magazine for over 3 years now and wrote an article that I’m hoping you all check out in the next issue which will be Oct/Now/Dec. It’s a short article on my view of being a belly dancer and the “Flower of Life” imprint of the Goddess. I think you will all like it and maybe if I get enough interest I might post it here so you all can get a peek at it first before it comes out.
Ciao for now,
Leyla
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